SHEENA BARNETT: More than just music

This weekend I said goodbye to what was probably my best friend: my iPod. I know, I know – and my diamond shoes are too tight. But hear me out.
It feels weird mourning a device, a small, nearly 5 ounce piece of metal and plastic. But it had a name – my college nickname, Sheena Las Vegas – and it went everywhere with me. I’ve lost my purse, keys, phone, wallet, you name it, but never, ever my iPod.
That’s probably because it essentially carried my life within it, in the form of music.
It held my entire music library that often grew by the week, which was always handy.
But most importantly, it held all of my playlists, many of which took hours to create, most of which were named after my favorite movie lines, all of which were a soundtrack to my life.
I had a playlist for everything.
My “How Very” playlist was my go-to list, full of whatever music I was into lately.
It was full of classic stuff like The Smiths and Notorious B.I.G., as well as fresh favorites like the best tracks off the new Macklemore and Father John Misty records.
Then there was my “Birds of a Feather/Now and forever” playlist, dedicated to my best friend Hannah. It held the music of our three favorite bands, the Smashing Pumpkins, My Chemical Romance and AFI.
I had a pop playlist, too: “A Mass of Music and Fire” contained hits by Beyonce, Rihanna, Robyn and Ladyhawke.
Then I had specific artists’ playlists, like “Turn Left at Greenland,” full of nothing but The Beatles.
But what I’m really going to miss are the endless playlists I had dedicated to different life events.
I had very carefully constructed playlists for Halloween and Christmas parties, friends’ wedding receptions, specific Album Club meetings – all gone. I even had a really rad playlist for game of Lazer Tag.
I still have those memories, sure, but the songs, those playlists, were the soundtrack to them, and now they’re gone.
And yes, I know, I should’ve saved these playlists to my computer. Some are there, some are not. Some contain just a few songs instead of the hundreds they ended up becoming.
So I’ve learned a life lesson in all of this, and really I should be thankful for the years of daily use that my iPod survived.
The interesting this is, this’ll definitely change how and when I listen to music. No more workout playlist at the gym, no more rocking out to the “How very” list while I drive to and from assignments.
Hopefully soon I’ll get to reorganize a new iPod and fill it full of fresh playlists.
The nerd in me secretly loves the reorganization part, so I’m kind of excited, actually.
Come on, Santa.
Contact staff writer Sheena Barnett at sheena.barnett@journalinc.com.